2007 sees the 25th Anniversary of the release of the debut album of original supergroup 'Asia'. Last year the four original band members reunited for the first time in over two decades to tour across Europe & the US and the touring shows no signs of letting up with dates already booked into this year. On the back of the band's UK tour HardRockHouse caught up with keyboard player Geoff Downes to find out just why the band got back together and what's next for the band and Geoff.

Geoff Downes

Hi Geoff, to start off with could you introduce yourself And the other current members of Asia to any of our readers who may be unfamiliar with the band?

GD - Geoff Downes – musician, Icon, keyboard player – look me up on Wikipedia if you want to know more. Steve Howe, John Wetton, Carl Palmer – Progressive rock icons from Yes, King Crimson and ELP

As a keyboard player who inspired you when you first started playing and as you progressed throughout your career?

GD - Emerson, Wakeman and especially – David Sinclair from the Canterbury prog-rock legends, Caravan

Before Discussing the Asia reunion I would like to ask a few questions about your career.

GD - Yeah…..?

Your name first became prominent with the Buggles big hit 'Video Killed The Radio Star'

GD - Correct

What, if any, material had you released and worked on by yourself before this time?

GD - I was working with Trevor (Horn) on a load of useless disco productions in the mid-Seventies. We decided to beef them up a bit which is how we developed the ‘Buggles’ sound. Imitation orchestras and zany productions more to have fun than anything else. We were earning peanuts at the time. We’d stay up all night messing  around in the studio

You then joined Yes I believe in time for their Drama album, how did that come about ?

GD - We had the same manager. He suggested a collaboration and it developed from there

Am I correct in thinking that your involvement in Asia came about partly due to working with Steve Howe in Yes?

GD - Yes, no doubt this had a bearing on it. In all modesty, I think my style of keyboard really suits Steve’s approach to guitaring. There is definitely a chemistry there between us.

  

Very quickly John Wetton and yourself became established as the main song writers in Asia. How do the two of you work together in putting a track together?

GD - It’s mainly to meeting of 2 minds. John has an idea – I have an idea, and we simply combine them. We sit round an acoustic piano, and see what comes up. John writes most of the lyrics but occasionally he asks me to contribute, which I am only too happy to do.

Throughout Asia's career you’ve been the only constant in every incarnation of the band. Why did you continue with the Asia name after everybody else had called it day?

GD - It lasted 12 years. I thought it was a good idea at the time (to continue), but got increasingly bored and uninspired with the project over the years.

So when you look back on the John Payne era how do you feel it stands up against the original band?

GD - No comment on John Payne.

  

You’ve gone on record as stating that Icon is completely different animal to Asia, even though both band feature yourself and John Wetton. What in your opinion is the difference between an Icon song and a Asia song?

GD - It depends on how it lands, but I think JW and me know instinctively what is ASIA and what is ICON. With Icon we can write virtually in any style, whereas, with Asia, the brief is much more specific, because it revolves around the individual elements of the band

Why after 23 years apart did you decide it was good time to time to reform the original Asia line up?

GD - I really felt the time was right for the original band to get back together again. Icon is a great inspirational project which I hope can live and continue in tandem with the reformed ASIA in the future. It’s very enjoyable for both of us (me & JW).

As mentioned in the intro, 2007 is the 25^th anniversary of the release of yout debut. What are memories of the song writing and recording of that album do you have after all these years and what input did Mike Stone have on the finished sound of the record? 

GD - It was a crazy period. I don’t think we really knew what we were creating in terms of future success, but it was great fun. Mike was a genius in the production chair – a true inspiration, and is sadly missed.

How did the song writing and performances differ on the later Asia albums compared to that debut?

GD - It was always business-as-usual for me and John. We were the main songwriters and we just got on with the job. Of course, Steve was more evident as a writer on the first album, and perhaps this helped with the general balance of material – but nonetheless, it was the way it was.

With the first legs of the reunion tour over how did the shows go for you on a personal level and are there any plans to change the set for 2007?

Enjoyed the tour immensely. We’re playing the same set into 2007, but may change things a bit when we go to the States in summer. It’s great fun playing the older material from our collective pasts, and hopefully we can vary this in the future.

Universal have recently released the definitive Asia collection. Which tracks would you play to somebody who has never heard of Asia as the best introduction to your music?

GD - The Universal collection is a nice historical output of the original band. It stands up as good album – I think. Faves are still: Only Time…Wildest…Open Your Eyes… Voice Of America – Take your pick!

So after Asia and Icon, what’s next Geoffrey Downes?

GD -Asia/Icon/Solo – There’s plenty to be getting on with. I’m trying  to find time for the solo stuff, but there’s a very busy year ahead!

Out of curiosity have you heard the GPS album and do you think it bears any resemblance to what Asia have done in the past?

GD - Yeah, I heard it. Doesn’t sound anything like Asia whatsoever to my ears!

And finally, the standard HardRockHouse question, is there any thing you would like to add or mention that we haven't covered so far? 

GD - Nope, that covers it for me!

Thanks to Geoff for taking the time to speak to HardRockHouse.com. You can find out more about Geoff and Asia through the following links: www.originalasia.com and www.geoffdownes.com

Related Links

Asia - Defintive Collection Album Review

Asia - Live Review